Video: 'U.S. breaks Relations with Cuba, 1961'
(Tuesday, January 3, 1961, 8:30 p.m. EST; during the Cold War) — The United States formally terminated diplomatic and consular relations with the government of Cuba tonight.
Continue reading U.S. breaks diplomatic relations with Fidel Castro’s Cuba 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 3 1961)
Video: 'Roosevelt Speaking About Cancer Of Nazis And Aid To Britain (1940)'
(Sunday, December 29, 1940, 9:30-10:00 p.m. EST; during World War II) — In a radio “fireside chat” directed primarily to the American people but broadcast throughout the world, President Franklin D. Roosevelt tonight promised to help the United Kingdom fight Nazi Germany by providing them with war supplies.
Continue reading ‘We must be the great arsenal of democracy,’ FDR declares 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 29 1940)
Video: 'Ken Burns’ Civil War, ep1 part 2-3' (Anderson moves garrison to Fort Sumter at 28:54)
(Wednesday, December 26, 1860; seven weeks after the 1860 United States presidential election) — Six days after South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union, the Federal commander of the Charleston defenses, Maj. Robert Anderson, moved his tiny garrison of fewer than 90 men today from Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island to Fort Sumter, situated in the middle of Charleston Harbor.
Continue reading Federal troops take refuge in Fort Sumter after South Carolina secedes 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 26 1860)
Video: '20th December 1860: South Carolina secedes from the United States of America'
(Thursday, December 20, 1860, 1:15 p.m. local time; six weeks after the 1860 United States presidential election) — 44 days after Abraham Lincoln’s victory in the presidential election of 1860 on a platform opposing the expansion of slavery into the western territories, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union today as all 169 delegates to a special convention in Charleston voted in favor of separation.
Continue reading South Carolina becomes first Southern state to secede from Union over slavery 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 20 1860)
Video: '2000 Election December 12 Gore v. Bush Supreme Court Decision' (5 videos)
(Tuesday, December 12, 2000, about 10 p.m. EST; during the United States presidential election, 2000) — Five weeks after one of the most unsettled presidential elections in American history, Texas Governor George W. Bush, a Republican, became president-elect tonight as the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 it was reversing the ruling of the Florida Supreme Court allowing hand recount of votes in Florida.
The ruling, in effect, ensured Bush would win the presidency over incumbent Vice President Al Gore of Tennessee, a Democrat. Continue reading Supreme Court votes 5-4 to give presidential election to George W. Bush 20 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 12 2000)
Video: 'The American Presidential Election of 1820'
(Wednesday, December 6, 1820, during the United States presidential election, 1820) — James Monroe, a Democratic-Republican from Virginia, was re-elected as the fifth President of the United States today without a major opponent. Continue reading U.S. President Monroe re-elected without major opposition 200 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 6 1820)
Video: 'The American Presidential Election of 1840'
(Wednesday, December 2, 1840, during the United States presidential election, 1840) — Former U.S. Senator William H. Harrison of Ohio, a Whig, was elected as the ninth President of the United States today, defeating incumbent President Martin Van Buren of New York, a Democrat.
Continue reading William Henry Harrison defeats incumbent President Martin Van Buren in U.S. election 180 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 2 1840 )
Video: '"The Administrators" 1970-2008'
(Wednesday, December 2, 1970) — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), an independent executive agency of the United States federal government tasked with environmental protection matters, began operation today after President Richard Nixon signed an executive order, which was ratified by committee hearings in the House and Senate.
Continue reading Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officially opens its doors 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 2 1970)
Video: 'Korean War - PART 16, The Low Point, 6.25' (Nov. 30, 1950, at 5:24)
(Thursday, November 30, 1950, 10:30 a.m. EST; during the Second Phase Offensive, part of the Korean War and the Cold War) — As Chinese forces of the People’s Volunteer Army (PVA) pushed back United Nations forces from the Yalu River, U.S. President Harry S. Truman frightened the world today when he declared during a press conference that UN forces would “take whatever steps are necessary to meet the military situation in Korea,” including use of the atomic bomb.
Continue reading President Truman threatens to use atomic bomb to win Korean War 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 30 1950)
Video: 'November 25, 1960 - President Elect John F. Kennedy arrives at Georgetown University Hospital'
(Friday, November 25, 1960, 12:22 a.m. EST) — John Fitzgerald Kennedy Jr., the son of U.S. President-elect John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, was born today by Caesarean section at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., weighing in at 6 pounds and 2 ounces. Continue reading John F. Kennedy Jr. born 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 25 1960)
